Obituary of Andrew Ludwig Hofmeister

ANDREW HOFMEISTER Andrew Ludwig Hofmeister died of complications from diabetes on September 1, 2007 at Olympia Manor Nursing Home in Olympia, Washington. He was 94. Hofmeister was born in Kulm, North Dakota on February 16, 1913 to John and Martha (Billigmeier) Hofmeister. On May 19, 1940, he married Jane Habedank LaBrie in Malta, Montana. Hofmeister grew up on a dry-land homestead near Ingomar, Montana. To finance his education, he worked multiple jobs including tying sheep wool and waiting tables. After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Montana in 1938, he taught in several public schools in Montana. Adept and interested in art from an early age, he earned his MFA degree at Washington State University in 1947 and joined the Fine Arts faculty that same year, retiring three decades later in 1978. During his long and distinguished career as a painter and teacher, he received numerous awards and exhibited extensively in galleries throughout the Northwest. His work is in many private and public collections including the Tacoma Art Museum, Seattle Art Museum, Cheney Cowles Museum, Museum of Northwest Art and Yellowstone Art Center as well as the WSU and University of Montana art museums. After his retirement from WSU, Hofmeister’s painting underwent something of a renaissance acquiring new color and vigor resulting in an intriguing mix of abstract and representational elements inspired by music, poetry, landscapes and memories. In 1997, Hofmeisters moved to Olympia, Washington to live with their daughter. Although the death of his wife, Jane, in 2003 left a great emptiness in his life, he maintained his passion as an artist and continued to paint until a few weeks before his death. He loved to listen to classical music, particularly Mahler’s 4th Symphony, and he enjoyed the other arts as well. As a young man, he was a vocal soloist at weddings and funerals and was a member of several choral groups. He admired the poetry of Robert Frost and e. e. cummings and composed several booklets of his own poetry for family and friends. Like his father, he was a resourceful handyman and creative builder who designed and crafted several houses including the furniture. He was loving and generous to family and friends, always able to see the beauty in his surroundings, and faced life’s inevitable setbacks with dignity and courage. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jane; brother Raymond Hofmeister; sister, Irene Olson. Survivors include his daughter, Andree Castoldi (Richard) in Olympia; son, Jon Hofmeister (Barbara) in Eugene, Oregon; four grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. A family gathering will be held at a later date. Remembrances may be made to the American Diabetes Association. PRESS RELEASE Noted Northwest Artist Dies Longtime Northwest painter, Andrew Hofmeister, passed away September 1 in Olympia, Washington due to complications from diabetes. He was 94. Born in Kulm, North Dakota, Hofmeister grew up on a dry land homestead near Ingomar, Montana. He became interested in art at an early age, and was influenced by such Western artists as Charles M. Russell and C. S. Price. As a teenager, he earned money tying sheep wool to finance his college education. After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Montana in 1938, he taught public school in Montana. He earned his MFA degree at Washington State University in 1947 and joined the Fine Arts faculty that same year, retiring three decades later in 1978. During his long and distinguished career as a painter and teacher, he received numerous awards and exhibited extensively in galleries throughout the Northwest, particularly in Montana and Washington. He exhibited in the Northwest Watercolor Annual in the Seattle Art Museum for 24 years and was awarded 12 honors. His abstract impressionistic paintings received high acclaim in Northwest art circles, having been compared to the works of such well-known artists as Mark Tobey and Kenneth Callahan. His work is in many private and public collections including the permanent collections at the Tacoma Art Museum, Seattle Art Museum, Cheney Cowles Museum, Museum of Northwest Art and Yellowstone Art Center as well as the Washington State University and University of Montana art museums. After his retirement from WSU, Hofmeister essentially withdrew from the competitive art world and his paintings underwent something of a renaissance acquiring new color and vigor. In relative obscurity, he produced what some regard as his best work, an intriguing mix of abstract and representational elements inspired by music, poetry, landscapes and memories. He occasionally participated in museum and art gallery shows and continued to paint until a few weeks before his death. A retrospective show of Hofmeister’s work appeared in February-March 2007 at the Karin Clarke Gallery in Eugene, Oregon. Hofmeister leaves behind a prodigious body of work reflecting his lifetime passion for painting. For more information please contact: Jon Hofmeister 4720 Larkwood St. Eugene, OR 97405-3913 (541) 345-9029 jbhof@comcast.net